Lehigh River, Pennsylvania Scenic River in eastern Pennsylvania, US.
The Lehigh River is a waterway in eastern Pennsylvania that flows from the Pocono region down to where it meets the Delaware River near Easton. The river cuts through mountain valleys creating a winding course with both calm sections and whitewater areas depending on water flow conditions.
From 1821 until 1966 the river was owned by a single company, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, making it the only privately held river in America. This long period of private ownership shaped how the region developed.
The river takes its name from a Lenni Lenape word describing where water channels meet. People along its banks connect this name to the land's deep history and the original inhabitants who knew it first.
The river supports activities like whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, and boating thanks to water being released from an upstream dam to maintain navigable conditions. Visitors should check water levels before heading out since depth and current vary by season.
Between 1850 and 1880 the region used the river to support iron production that accounted for one quarter of all American iron made during that time. You can still spot remnants of old industrial buildings along the banks from this period of industrial power.
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